The National Network For Fair Trade in India

WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY Celebration in India

The World Fair Trade Day is an initiative of the Fair Trade that takes place in the month of May, each year. Fair Trade has been proved to be a sustainable solution for the vulnerable populations to fight against exploitation, economic crisis and spread awareness. If not the whole population, for the most part weaker section of the society do get affected by it. We at Fair Trade consider the needs of the unguarded sector against global crisis and provide them a sustainable livelihood by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers. World Fair Trade Day is the festival to commemorate our achievements, which we celebrate every year on second week of May. Theme for the year 2015 had been ‘BE an AGENT for CHANGE’, which describes the agent who can support Fair Trade Movement. Agents plays critical role in raising awareness of the issue s and providing sustainable solution. As per WFTO, agents can be human, products, initiatives, which can help in bringing change in the community. Fair Trade Forum Indiamember organizations celebrated the festival in different ways all over India. It was a good celebration week for the members.

TARA PROJECTS Tara Projects, a prominent organization has been working in the field of environment, health, education and livelihood joined hands together with its neighbouring organization Usha Exim to celebrate the World Fair Trade Day.

Usha Exim producing the accessories and bags has a good work force of their own, contributing to the total gathering of 175 artisans, appreciating the way of livelihood fair trade provide them and to their family.

On this occasion, a quiz was conducted by Vikas Kumar to raise more awareness about TARA and Fair Trade Principles. Mr Basant Kumar, President TARA Project Association shared with the participants about the need to be committed towards Fair Trade, values and Principles. He urged the producers and everyone to work together which will make a better and equitable world.

World Fair Trade Day celebration at SETU-The Bridge To The Artisans On the occasion of World Fair Trade Day, SETU (Save and Empower The Underprivileged), in association with JKSMS (Jan Kala Sahitya Manch Sanstha) organized a campaign on the concept of Fair Trade. Major tourist attraction of Jaipur city like Jantar Mantar, City Place, Jal Mahal and Gaurav Tower were covered to make it a successful campaign. On 09th May, 2015, around 150 people were addressed through the campaign. As part of the activity, quiz was also conducted covering topics about Fair Trade objectives to generate interest. Fair trade products were distributed as prizes to encourage participation and appreciation. Culmination of the program came with the distribution of pamphlets, brochures and handouts to make people aware about the ten principles of Fair Trade.

PURKAL STREE SHAKTIPurkal Stree Shakti, another member organization of Fair Trade Forum India celebrated World Fair Trade Day 2015 with its women artisans in Uttrakhand. Ms Chinni Swamy initiated the event with the welcome note to the artisans, which was followed by the screening of FTFI documentary- ‘Fair Dreams’. This documentary was screened to all women artisans and around 50 PYDS (Purkal Youth Development Society) School children.

On one of the ten Fair Trade principles, these children presented a play giving the message of the importance of keeping the environment free of plastic. These children also spoke to women about how to segregate biodegradable and non-degradable and how to depose them off. Exchange of knowledge in the form of fun exercises turn out to be very constructive way of celebrating such a purposeful festival. Women of Purkal Stree Shakti also successfully inaugurated the subsidized lunch to the artisans on 01st May, 2015.

ASHA HANDICRAFT We are pleased to announce that on the occasion of World Fair Trade Day, Asha Handicraft inaugurated its third Fair Trade Branded Shop in Mumbai.

Expanding the market for the fair trade proportionately grows the work and work force for the organization.

Congratulations to ASHA Handicrafts for branding their third shop KARIGAR under Fair Trade India Brand. they launched their shop on the occasion of World Fair Trade Day.

The Address for the shop is:

Karigar Parle Square Mall,

Vile Parle East,

Mumbai – 400057

India

KADAM HAAT Kadam Haat, situated in Kolaghat, Kolkata celebrated Fair Trade Day with its Artisans. Kadam Haat, dealing with youth migration and unemployment in slums and villages find the reason to celebrate its cause and spread its potential message to the others. Snacks were also distributed in the local school where most of the artisans’ children study.

Kadam Haat has been supporting the community from time to time. In the local school solar lights, fans and tubewell were donated. Kadam Haat also celebrated its 9 years of service, working for the women and the youth of rural India. In a separate event Department of Panchayats & Rural Development, Govt. of West Bengal has invited Kadam Haat to speak at the round table conference on business linkages for Self-Help-Groups in different districts of West Bengal.

Pushpanjali Fair Trade also made its mark on the occasion of World Fair Trade Day on 09th may, 2015 in Agra. The name of the event was given, ‘I Love Fair Trade’.

Founder of Pushpanjali Mr S. C. Mittal started the event with a small speech on Fair Trade principles and human values. Artisans were made aware about their health and safety measures while working. Pushpanjali also conducted few activities followed by dinner served to the artisans and everyone who attended the event.

Himalayan Fair Trade Handicraft Pvt Ltd celebrated World Fair Trade Day at their center on World Fair Trade Day. Games were organized for the women working group. HFTH also organized a painting competition among the women artisans. Very enthusiastically women participated celebrating World Fair Trade day, they were also made aware about their rights and equality.

Sasha ‘It’s Our Turn to Lead’- a fashion show was organised at SASHA SHOP in Kolkata. In the invite the participants were urged to be AGENTS FOR CHANGE. The Fair and Ethical Fashion show celebrated the artisans and the designers behind the label. Confirming to the practices of fair labor standards the clothes displayed by the models carried a strong message of environmental protection. In the event the Agents for Change were acknowledged. The local feel with a global dimension was an initiative of SASHA and Earth Day Network-India. Friends and supporters gathered at the Shop to witness a fashion show that featured up cycled and organic clothes. Apart from promoting the environmental benefits of organic clothing the event also encouraged the audience to be AGENTS FOR CHANGE in their respective communities. World Fair Trade Day was also celebrated with the Producer partners. Artisans, group leaders and skilled craftswomen & men showcased their talent showcasing their talents by poetry recitation, music and dance. They also shared their journeys to becoming AGENTS OF CHANGE.

MESHMaximizing Employment to Serve the Handicapped (MESH) in Delhi celebrated World Fair Trade Day in a different way, Fair Trade trainers conducted a fine training session. MESH is an Indian organisation practicing Fair Trade with craft artisans who are affected by leprosy or have disabilities.

They have shops in Delhi and Hyderabad and work with artisans from all over India. In all, fair trade day is fairly celebrated in every part of the country. Member organizations and artisans of the groups have eagerly participated in the event. It was a good event which helped in spreading information about Fair trade. Concept of fair trade is appreciated and pledged support by many as they understood it better. Artisans and organization made the festivity a foster system to promote fair trade products, which obviously, by the size of the gathering we can tell, are fairly admired.